Retractable Roof

Marlins owner Jeffrey H. Loria walked out of Land Shark Stadium muttering what every other disappointed fan was probably thinking after Saturday night's game against the first-place Phillies was rained out after a 90-minute delay with Florida leading 2-0 in the second inning. "We should've got the roof for today; just bring the roof over," Loria said, referring to the groundbreaking ceremony at the Orange Bowl site of the $515 million stadium in which a video was shown displaying the retractable roof.

Think you have problems with your lawn? Chad Mulholland has the most challenging yard care task in South Florida and one of the toughest in the major leagues. The head groundskeeper at Marlins Park not only has to contend with the extremes of the subtropical climate, the opening and closing of the retractable roof provides a formidable obstacle to maintaining lush and healthy grass. Beginning its third season with Monday's opener against Colorado, the ballpark is on its third type of turfgrass, with fresh Platinum TE Paspalum sod installed three weeks ago. Two types of bermudagrass didn't cut it, so to speak.

Miami-Dade County officials and Dolphins Stadium representatives have discussed outfitting the stadium with a retractable roof and allowing the Florida Marlins to remain there with a more favorable lease, if they are unable to complete a financing deal for a new ballpark, sources said Tuesday. The officials met last week to discuss the proposal that is still being fine-tuned, but would put county hotel bed tax dollars toward construction of a roof and provide the Marlins with more revenue than they earn now, the sources said.

Fans of the Miami Marlins continued to express their outrage over a payroll-trimming trade of five key players on Wednesday, triggering speculation that fallout from the deal could hurt stadium makeover hopes of another South Florida franchise - the Miami Dolphins. Rodney Barreto, chairman of South Florida's Super Bowl Host Committee, said public reaction to the baseball team's roster moves may mean taxpayers, who funded 80 percent of Marlins Park, are faced with "a real gut check.

Marlins Park endured its first brush with tropical weather without damage with the retractable roof being secured in hurricane mode. With winds from Tropical Storm Isaac gusting from 30-40 mph Sunday in Little Havana, the roof and operable windows above the outfield were manually tied down as a preventative measure. The $515 million facility sustained no damage and will be ready for the Marlins to open a nine-game homestand Tuesday night against Washington, said Claude Delorme, Marlins chief of ballpark operations.

After years of playing baseball between rain delays and on sticky summer nights, the Marlins started with two non-negotiable features for the design of their new ballpark: a retractable roof and air-conditioning. Keeping fans comfortable will keep them coming back, the Marlins believe. So when fans take in a baseball game at Marlins Park this season, which opens on Wednesday, they will be sitting under an 8,000-ton marvel of architecture and engineering that will keep it a cool and dry 75 degrees inside, no matter the weather outside.

Broward County can save the Marlins for South Florida. Miami cannot. How many people are willing to run the gantlet to downtown Miami to see a baseball game? Not me, and not enough to give the team the support it needs. But a central location that draws fans from Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties could be an important asset for South Florida. And a retractable roof is a must. I made two games this season, and got rained on both times. Step up to the plate, Broward.

I went to see the double header of the Marlins vs. Braves. I was impressed with the entire atmosphere. The parking lots were clean, paved, well lit, and well identified; the building was well kept; the attendants were helpful; the dining area was immaculate as were the bathrooms. Now I don't know structurally or architecturally what it would take to put a retractable roof on the present Pro Player Stadium, but if it could be done, it would certainly be cheaper than building a new building, and its present location is less congested than most of the proposed sites.

Miami-Dade and Broward counties can't or don't want to finance a new stadium for the Marlins at an estimated cost of $400 million. Now if we can get H. Wayne Huizenga and John Henry to get together, maybe they will put a retractable roof on Pro Player Stadium and redo the air conditioning system. I'm sure this wouldn't cost more than $200 million. Then John Henry can go out into the free market and get some decent players for our Marlins and make us competitive again. SID WEIN Hollywood

The Florida Marlins enter a significant chapter in construction of their new ballpark this morning, when the concrete foundation is scheduled to be poured for the first of 12 super columns that will support the venue?s roof. The foundation pour is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. It will be the first of a total 450 foundation pours for the $515 million, 37,000-seat ballpark project. According to a release form the team, the concrete will be poured over an 8-foot deep, 40 foot by 40 foot hole.

The organizers of several tennis tournaments at the Delray Beach Tennis stadium are dreaming big - so big they want the city to give up part of its ownership to build a new stadium with retractable roof that could accommodate more tournaments, concerts and other events. "It would have to be torn down," Mark Baron, tournament director for the International Tennis Championships, said of the Tennis Center and Stadium on Atlantic Avenue just west of Swinton Avenue. "The first step is to see what could be built there.

Marlins Park endured its first brush with tropical weather without damage with the retractable roof being secured in hurricane mode. With winds from Tropical Storm Isaac gusting from 30-40 mph Sunday in Little Havana, the roof and operable windows above the outfield were manually tied down as a preventative measure. The $515 million facility sustained no damage and will be ready for the Marlins to open a nine-game homestand Tuesday night against Washington, said Claude Delorme, Marlins chief of ballpark operations.

MIAMI - Marlins Park isn't just for baseball any longer. The Marlins along with Sean Flynn, the Marlins SVP of Marketing and Event Booking announced Wednesday that a three year-agreement was struck with Global Football Challenge to stage the Miami Soccer Challenge for early January. No teams have been confirmed to compete inaugural event, but Stuart Webb, President of Global Football Challenge said that there have been discussions with European teams Athletico Madrid, Roma, Juventus and South American teams such as Boca Juniors and Santos.

MIAMI An afternoon shower caught the Marlins with their roof open Wednesday and caused batting practice to be canceled. That was another first for Marlins Park. Rain fell heavily for about 15 minutes before the roof began to close. Puddles quickly formed on the warning track and around the field as the grounds crew scrambled to cover the infield with a tarp. Hanley Ramirez and several other Marlins came out of the clubhouse to watch the spectacle of the downpour in their new ballpark with a retractable roof.

After years of playing baseball between rain delays and on sticky summer nights, the Marlins started with two non-negotiable features for the design of their new ballpark: a retractable roof and air-conditioning. Keeping fans comfortable will keep them coming back, the Marlins believe. So when fans take in a baseball game at Marlins Park this season, which opens on Wednesday, they will be sitting under an 8,000-ton marvel of architecture and engineering that will keep it a cool and dry 75 degrees inside, no matter the weather outside.

A year after ground was broken at the former site of the Orange Bowl, the Marlins' ballpark is more than 40 percent complete. The seating bowl should be finished by the end of August. A portion of the fixed roof rising high above home plate is taking shape. Team officials say the $515 million, 37,000-seat ballpark is on time, on budget and scheduled to open in April 2012. And if Major League Baseball likes what it sees, the ballpark could host the All-Star Game in 2015. Here's a look at some of the ballpark figures: 37: Of the 54 bid packages needed to construct the ballpark, 37 have been awarded representing $320 million worth of work, according to Claude Delorme, Marlins executive vice president of ballpark development.

Think you have problems with your lawn? Chad Mulholland has the most challenging yard care task in South Florida and one of the toughest in the major leagues. The head groundskeeper at Marlins Park not only has to contend with the extremes of the subtropical climate, the opening and closing of the retractable roof provides a formidable obstacle to maintaining lush and healthy grass. Beginning its third season with Monday's opener against Colorado, the ballpark is on its third type of turfgrass, with fresh Platinum TE Paspalum sod installed three weeks ago. Two types of bermudagrass didn't cut it, so to speak.

I can't say I will be shedding any tears over the decision not to build a new stadium. Pro Player Stadium did fine for me the few times I went to a Marlins game. Ballparks have been around for ages without a retractable roof. Why do we need a "state-of-the-art" stadium when we don't have a state-of-the-art team? The Marlins have never been the same since their dismantling job after winning the World Series. The games are as outrageous in price as it is to go to Disney World. When will people realize we should pay professions such as teachers and law enforcement employees millions, not athletes?

The New England Patriots have some injury problems at linebacker. Junior Seau says he'd like to help. Just get back to him in a few months. "I have my phone open in November and December for the Pats if they need help," Seau told Sirius NFL Radio. "That's about it. I'm not waiting for the call. I'm just letting them know that." Added Seau, who played for the Dolphins from 2003-05, "This body can give you six games, but that's about it." Heavy, man Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen Marc Colombo, Cory Procter and Leonard Davis make up three-fourths of Free Reign, a heavy metal band.